Ex-coach of Plymouth Whitemarsh girls swim team loses bid for early termination of probation

COURTHOUSE — A former head coach of Plymouth Whitemarsh High School’s girls swim team who served jail time for sending sexually explicit text messages to a teenage girl he once coached has lost his bid for early termination of his probation.

Michael Dolan, 34, cannot “accelerate termination” of the five-year probationary term he is currently serving in connection with his 2009 conviction, Montgomery County Judge Thomas P. Rogers has ruled.

The judge, who held a hearing on the matter last week, denied Dolan’s request, taking into consideration the testimony of the victim, a letter submitted by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, “the entire record and the well-made arguments of counsel,” according to the court order.

While requesting the early termination of Dolan’s probation, defense lawyer Frederick W. McBrien III argued Dolan, during the course of serving his sentence, “demonstrated his commitment and steady progress toward rehabilitation” by enrolling in and completing prison treatment programs dealing with victims awareness, anger management, drug and alcohol issues and sex offender counseling. Dolan, McBrien added, was a successful work release inmate while serving the jail portion of his sentence.

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But Assistant District Attorney Samantha Cauffman opposed Dolan’s request, arguing it was “self-centered” and indicated he did not appreciate nor understand the trauma suffered by the victim.

The victim, who was 15 at the time of the crimes in 2008 and is now a college student, testified for prosecutors about the negative impact of Dolan’s conduct on her life.

Dolan, who at the time of his arrest lived in Whitpain, was sentenced on Nov. 18, 2009, to 1 ˝ -to-three-years in the county jail, to be followed by five years’ probation, after he pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful contact with a minor for purposes of prostitution and corruption of a minor in connection with incidents that occurred in April 2008.

Dolan, according to court papers, was released from jail on Dec. 12, 2011, after serving about two years of the jail sentence behind bars. Dolan’s parole period expired Nov. 20, 2012, leaving the five-year probationary sentence to be served, court papers indicate.

Dolan also faces a 25-year requirement to report his address to state police to comply with the state’s Megan’s Law.

Dolan was a seasonal part-time swim coach at the school who wrapped up his first year as a head coach in March 2008, according to authorities. Dolan was terminated from his job after his arrest.

The 15-year-old girl, who had no prior inappropriate contacts with Dolan, on April 24, 2008, received a series of unsolicited sexually explicit text messages from an unidentified caller.

The first message, which came to her personal cell phone around 2:30 a.m., asked her if she would perform oral sex for $200, according to the criminal complaint.

The girl continued to receive periodic text messages throughout the school day from the caller, including one message asking her to meet him for paid sex at Miles Park, which is near the high school in Whitemarsh.

The girl, not knowing who was sending the text messages and fearing for her safety, informed her mother who brought her to the Whitemarsh police station that evening.

Police obtained a search warrant and traced the phone number from which the text messages were sent to an account in Dolan’s name, according to the criminal complaint.

At the time of Dolan’s arrest, Colonial School District officials said they were shocked and disappointed that Dolan was implicated in such behavior. Officials said the district did not receive any complaints about Dolan, who did not teach in the district, during the months he served as the swim coach.

Dolan, who came highly recommended, passed the various required background checks, school officials added.